Proposal to Recognize May 10th as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day

The San Gabriel Vigil on March 20 (File Photo – Andrew Nuñez)

On Monday, May 10, 2021, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) introduced the first congressional resolution to recognize May 10th as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day.

By News Desk

May 10th has been recognized as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day in the State of California since 2010, but is not a federally recognized day yet. This resolution calls upon Members of Congress to promote national awareness of mental health issues unique to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and urges State and local health agencies across the nation to improve the quality and availability of mental health services for this population.

According to data collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), AANHPIs have the lowest help-seeking rate of any racial/ethnic group, with only 23.3% of AANHPI adults with a mental illness receiving treatment in 2019. And, even though suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, it is the leading cause of death for Asian or Pacific Islander youth ages 15-24. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these problems as increased racial violence and discrimination against the Asian American community has increased the need for mental health services. Rep. Chu was joined by U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-06), Kai Kahele (HI-02), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) in introducing the resolution.

The resolution garnered endorsements from the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Change Matrix, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS), Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC).

Original Co-Sponsors of the AANHPI Mental Health Day Resolution: Reps. Strickland, Matsui, Kahele, Lowenthal, Napolitano, Takano, Lee (Susie), Smith (Adam), and Men.